Biocatalytic Single‐Step Alkene Cleavage from Aryl Alkenes: An Enzymatic Equivalent to Reductive Ozonization

Abstract

O2 can do: Innocuous molecular oxygen O2 is the only reagent needed to perform highly chemoselective biocatalytic single-step alkene-cleavage reactions (see scheme). The products are analogous to those of (reductive) ozonization and related metal-based methods. In contrast neither special equipment nor an additional reducing agent is required. The biocatalytic reaction can be performed at ambient temperature. Depending on the substrate, aldehydes or ketones are obtained.